New Book Explores Gender-Sensitive Parliaments in Fiji

A quiet but exciting release nearly passed us by — congratulations to Dr Sonia Palmieri on the publication of her new book, Gender Sensitive Parliaments in Fiji: Between International Norms and Localised Change (Springer, 2025). The book will be officially launched at the upcoming Australasian Aid Conference.

In this timely and insightful work, Dr Palmieri examines how international gender equality norms intersect with local political realities in the Parliament of the Republic of Fiji. Drawing on key concepts of gendered institutional transformation — commitment, capacity and will — she explores how far Fiji’s parliamentary actors and processes have progressed towards becoming truly gender sensitive.

While global research on gender-sensitive parliaments has grown, the Pacific region remains underexplored. Dr Palmieri’s book fills this critical gap, offering a nuanced understanding of the region’s unique context. It highlights both the opportunities and the challenges of translating international gender equality norms into meaningful, locally grounded change.

By examining Fiji’s experience, Gender Sensitive Parliaments in Fiji also prompts wider reflection on the role of international organisations, which have invested heavily in promoting gender-sensitive governance worldwide. The book questions assumptions about the universality of such norms and the capacity of external actors to embed them sustainably within local institutions.

Dr Palmieri’s research contributes significantly to the growing body of scholarship on gender, governance and institutional reform in the Pacific — and offers valuable insights for policymakers, practitioners and scholars alike.

📘 Read more about the book here: Gender Sensitive Parliaments in Fiji: Between International Norms and Localised Change